A harbinger of the good things to come with the 2009 vintage in Burgundy? Bouchard Père et Fils 2009 vintage Bourgogne Pinot Noir Réserve is clearly a more well-endowed vin regionale than may be typical: dark cherry-skin red in color with aromas suggestive of cranberry, black cherry, baking spices and earth; at once supple, delicate and crisp, but engaging, challenging and just warm with ample weight and body and that telltale mouthwatering Burgundian acidity keeping things fresh to the finish. Will this impress on the level of, say, your every day Grand Cru Chambertin? Not likely. But for those who truly love Burgundy, this is a most impressive, if not every day, perhaps every other day red Burgundy.

Lovely cherry and raspberry aromas and flavors highlight this elegant, juicy red, which is firmly structured, with fine balance and length. Best from 2012 through 2020. 604 cases imported. Rated 90. ‑BS, Wine Spectator November 15, 2010

There is a certain chic about Chardonnay, an undeniable élégance. Among white wine grapes, it is certainly the most well‑travelled, it is planted to some of the finest soils in some of the finest wine‑growing areas, and it arguably produces among the rarest, finest and (yes, the proof is often in the price) most expensive white wines on the planet. But, thank our lucky stars, there is still to be found a modicum of modesty in the world of wine. We've recently discovered a rather more down‑home version of Chardonnay — down‑home in that this is Chardonnay from Chardonnay, the village of Chardonnay, that is, what may well be the very birthplace or, at least, the namesake of the grape in southern Burgundy. Comfortable in its own skin, the wine speaks easily of the place and the grape, with fresh aromas suggesting sweet citrus flower and limestone; cool and crisp on the tongue, just rounded at the edges with delicately intense fruit flavors that refresh and reverberate long. This is one delicious drink of Chardonnay, from Chardonnay itself!

Settled in the heart of the Côte de Beaune since 1731, Bouchard Père et Fils know well the qualities of the terroirs of this southern section of the Côte d'Or. For their Bourgogne Blanc Réserve, they have selected fine Chardonnay fruit from various parcels of vineyard for their complementary qualities: Beaune for body, Meursault for roundness and complexity, the Hautes Côtes de Beaune for freshness and minerality and Rully for fruit and minerality. The result is a delicious if less expensive white Burgundy that would serve as a worthy entrée to the far more expensive white wines from the Côte de Beaune. Pale yellow gold in color with aromas of citrus and stone and a subtle toast from oak; at once smooth and round and crisp and compelling on the tongue with a fine delicate flavor, and a freshness and a satisfyingness that play ever so well together. Absolutely delicious!

The "Les Charmes" vineyard near the village of Lugny in the Mâconnais region of southern Burgundy is prized for its exceptional southern exposure and for the age of its vines, averaging some 40 years of age on the whole. Around here, we prize its production as among the surest of bets for value in white wine. Vinified entirely in stainless steel and bottled sans bois, that is, unlumbered, 100% unencumbered by oak, at the nearby Cave de Lugny; green-gold in color, the wine is fresh and vibrant with aromas that would suggest hazelnut, citrus flower and acacia honeys on a foundation of refreshing summer rains on limestone; medium-bodied, ample in weight, with a clean, crisp and lasting flavor on the finish. Given the consistently excellent quality and its extremely fair price, it’s not much wonder that Mâcon-Lugny Les Charmes Chardonnay is the best-selling white Burgundy in the United States!

The lovely village of Saint-Vérand (note the different spelling) is located half-hidden amongst the hills in the Mâconnais region of southern Burgundy, between Pouilly-Fuissé and the Beaujolais. Its Jurassic chalky soils are a continuation of the limestone strata found in the Côte d'Or and are ideal for growing Chardonnay grapes. Harvested by hand the grapes are immediately and gently pressed, then passed into stainless steel to undergo a slow and cool fermentation. The wine is bottled the following spring to retain its inherent freshness, fruitiness and roundness. Green-gold in color with discreet and pure Chardonnay aromas suggesting flesh of crisp green apple, citrus and stone; fine, elegant Chardonnay flavors are refreshingly crisp and mineral, but at the same time broadening on the tongue, becoming more sumptuous and satisfying, delivering a nice wallop of excellent dry white Burgundy wine for the price of mere everyday Chardonnay.